Original name Kwan Pak-wai, Kwan Shan was actor and director. Born in Shenyang, Liaoning, he followed his family to Hong Kong when war broke out. Impressed by the film “Beyond the Grave” (1954), he decided to try his luck in film business. In 1956, Kwan enrolled in Great Wall studio’s actor training course and was picked by producer/director Yuen Yang-an to play the leading role in "The True Story of Ah Q" (1958). The movie won him the Best Actor in Locarno International Film Festival, Switzerland, the first Hong Kong actor ever to win an award in international film festival. He then starred in numerous Shaw Brothers’ films including "Love Without End" (1961), “The Coin” (1964), "The Blue and the Black, Part One and Two" (1966) and "Too Late for Love" (1967) to become one of the premier actors of the 1960's, especially in melodramas. Starting from 1970's, he acted in Hong Kong and Taiwan films. He founded Kwan's Films Company in 1972 and starred, produced and directed "The Brutal Boxer" (1972) and other films. He gave a cameo appearance in RTV's action serial "Dragon Strikes" in 1979. He retired from his acting career in the 1980's and stayed in the United States.